Air deflector



Jan. 4, 1949. a. sms-rn 2,457,934

AIR DEFLECTQR Filed Aug. 26, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ld El@ @@loloo Jin. 4, 1949. .B,'SP|ETH 2,457,934

In nEFLEcTon Filed Aug. 26, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 4, 1949. B. SPH-:TH 2,457,934

AIR DEFLECTOR Filed Aug. 26, 19444v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 4, 1949 AIR DEFLECTOR Benjamin Spieth, Racine, Wis.,

assignor to Modine Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 26, 1944, Serial No. 551,404

10 Claims.

This invention relates to air deflectors and more particularly it relates to air deectors used in connection with vertical unit heaters.

One of the major problems in obtaining satisfactory performance of unit heaters is the control of the heated air as it leaves the unit. It is desirable that the heated air be distributed into all parts of the space to be heated Without objectionable drafts. Various devices have been designed to accomplish this purpose but ordinarily such devices result in a continuous hot or cold draft in concentrated areas, and one of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a rotatable air deector having one or more air deecting surfaces that extend at various angles of inclination with respect to the axis of the air deilector, whereby to deect the heated air over a greater area than has been heretofore attained.

Another object is the provision of mechanical means for rotating the deflector.

Another object is the provision of an air deflector which is rotated as a result of the air stream discharged upon it by the usual fan or other blower of the unit heater.

Another object is the provision of means for retarding the speed of rotation of the air deiiector.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of this specification and with all of said objects and advantages in view this invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification in which:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in central vertical section and partly in elevation of a unit heater equipped with an air deflcctor embodying a simple form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a plan of a modified form of air deflector;

Fig. 5 is a central vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; i

' Fig. 6 is a detailed bottom plan view taken from the line E-G of Fig. 5;

Figure 'l is a detailed vertical cross section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a plan partly broken away of a second modied form of air deflector;

Fig. 9 is a detailed vertical section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a third modified form of the air deector; and

Fig. 11 is a plan of another modification.

Referring to said drawings and first to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the reference character I0 designates a unit heater of conventional tubular form adapted to be suspended from the ceiling or other building structure.

The unit heater shown comprises a plurality of pipes I I arranged in a rectangular, circular or other desirable form, along which are strung heat radiating fins I2. The pipes II are connected to inlet and outlet headers (not shown) for the admission and discharge of the heating iiuid. A top casing I3 covers the upper end of the heater and a bottom casing I4 formed with a discharge opening I 5 is provided for the lower side of the heater. The heat exchange core formed by the pipes II and iins I2, and the top and bottom casings I3,

I4 provide a cabinet or chamber in which is contained an electric motor I6 supported from the top casing I3 and provided with a fan or blower I'l upon its shaft I8. Suitable walls I9, 20 surround the motor, and braces 2| may be provided for bracing the top casing I3.

Secured to and extending down from the lower casing I4 are U-shaped frame members 22 which have horizontal supporting members 24 that extend radially toward each other with their ends secured in a T-shaped iitting 25.

Secured in and extending up from the upright member of the T-shaped fitting is a stationary shaft or spindle 26 which forms the support for the deflector 21. Secured to a cross bar 28, which is bolted or otherwise secured to the deector, i's a sleeve 29, the upper end of which rests upon the top of the shaft or spindle 26 and supports the deector thereon while permitting the free rotation thereof.

In order to distribute the heated air over a maximum area this form of the deector is formed with several deflecting surfaces which inoline at different degrees of inclination with respect to the axis of the deflector. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, these deecting surfaces are provided by flat and steep cone segments 30, 3| preferably formed by hollow truncated cones. The cone segments may incline toward a common apex or they may ineline towards several apexes collinear with and coaxial with the axis of rotation of the deector and,as a preference. the adjacent edges of' the cone sections may be connected by vertical walls 32, although this is not material t'o the invention broadly considered.

It will be apparent from the inspection of Figs. 1 and 3 that during rotation of the reflector the heated air which is discharged downward by the fan or blower I1 is deflected into two oblique dlrections oi different angles with respect to the axis of the deflector, part being deflected by the fiat cone segments and part by the steep cone segments, thereby distributing the heated air over a greater area .than has heretofore been done.

Any suitable means may be employed for rotating the deflector. The means illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, for rotating the deector comprises a small electric motor 33 mounted upon a platform 34 carried by two of the supporting arms 24 and speed reducing gearing 35, 36, 3l, 38 which, as here illustrated, comprises the pinion driven by the motor, the gear Wheel 36 meshing therewith and mounted upon a shaft 39 journaled in bearings 40, 4| and the worm pinion a1 :neunten nn the shaft 39 and meshing with the worm gear 36 which is fast upon the sleeve 29. Obviously, other equivalent driving mechanism may be provided for slowly rotating the deilector.

In the modied form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 to '7, inclusive, the upright walls 32a join the edges of the cone segments 30a with the adjacent edges of the cone segments 3Ia, and extend in vertical planes which are tangential to a circle which is concentric with the axis of the deflector. With this disposition of vertical walls, the current of heated air discharged by the fan rotates the den-actor, and in order to prevent too rapid rotation thereof, retarding means, such as an escapement mechanism, is provided. As illustrated, this escapement mechanism comprises a lantern Wheel 42 fast on thesleeve 29 and having circumferentially disposed pins 43 which operate to oscillate the escapement lever 45 in connection with pallets 44 that project up from the escapement lever. The-lever is pivotally mounted as [by a pin 46 upon the bracket 41 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to one of the supporting members 24. of the U-shaped frame members 22. A disc 48 fastened to the lever on an axis concentric with the axis of the pivot pin 46 functions as an inertia member to increase the periods of vibration of the escapement lever. An auxiliary weighted body 49 mounted on the escapement lever for adjustment thereon may beprovided for increasing or decreasing the periods of oscillation of the lever.

The form of deflector `lust described requires no mechanical power to rotate it and its speed of rotation is 'governed by the escapement mechanism.

In .the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 each segment Sib of the steep cone extends through the arcI a, b, c, whereas each segment 30a of the flatter cone extends through the arc c, d. Under certain conditions it has been found advisable to decrease the eiective areas of the steeper segments of the cone and increase the effective areas of the flatter segments thereof. To accompli-sh this, auxiliary segmental cone plates 50 having the same angle of inclination as the segments 30h are provided which are adjustably mounted on segments 30h as by bolts and nuts 5I, bolt holes 52 being formed in the segments 30h for the purpose of locating the segmental plates on the segment 30a. Thus the plates can be made to in Fig. 10 an oblique cone 3llc is shown. On account of the various angles of inclination' of the surfaces of the oblique cone, when the latter is rotated air is deflected at many angles and thereby distributed over a greater area than has been accomplished heretofore. On the surface of the cone may be provided obliquely disposed vanes 32C against which the' current of air discharged by the fan will implnge and thereby rotate the cone. l

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 11 the air deector is in the form of a cone 30d having an elliptical base and an apex 30e. On account of the difference in inclination of the various parts of the surfaces, the defiector will distribute air at many angles when rotated. This form of the device may, if desired, be provided with vanes as in the form illustrated in Fig. 104 and both forms illustrated in Figs. l0 and 1l may be lcomplete cones or truncated cones. Suitable drive means may be provided for driving the cone 30d.

Suitable drive means, for instance, such as that seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 may be employed for driving the cone 30e.

From the above it is apparent that I have proover a greater area than has been accomplished heretofore, that the parts are simple, easy to manufactureand assemble and are not likely to go into disrepair.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modiilcationsmay be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form,

- 'construction arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentloned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a unit heater and a motor driven fan, a supporting frame carried by the unit heater, a spinde supported by said frame, a rotatory cone-shaped deilector whose axis is substantially coaxial with the axis of the motor shaft, and whose/base is disposed in one and the same plane, said deflector having several cone segments, some of which extend at a greater angle of inclination to the axis of the cone than others, and means to rotatably support the deiector on said spindle with its apex end disposed on the discharge side of the fan.

2. In combination with a unit heater and a motor driven fan. a supporting frame carried by said unit heater, a spindle supported by said frame, a rotatory cone-shaped deflector whose axis is substantially coaxial with the axis of the motor shaft, said deilector having several segments of a cone, theeiective surfaces of which segments slope at various angles of inclination with respect to the axis of the cone, with the bases of all disposed in one and the same plane, and with their apexes collinear and substantially in coaxial alignment with the axis 'of the motor shaft, rotatable means to support the de- `iiector on said spindle with its smaller end disposed adjacent the discharge side of the fan, and means to rotate the deflector onits axis.

3. In combination with a unit heater core, fan motor, a fan driven thereby, and an enclosing cabinet for the core motor and fan, a supporting frame carried by the heater cabinet, a spindle supported by said frame, an air defiector having air deflecting segments of truncated cones, some of the cone segments sloping at a greater angle to the axis of the cone than other surfaces, with the bases of all disposed in one and the same plane, and the axes of the cone segments being substantially collinear` and in coaxial alignment with the axis of the motor shaft, and the apex ends of the cone segments being disposed on the same side of the plane of the base of the cone segments as the motor, means for rotatably supporting the deflector on said spindle with its smaller end disposed adjacent the discharge side of the fan, and means for rotating the same on its axis.

4. In combination with a unit heater core, a fan motor, a fan driven thereby, and an enclosing cabinet enclosing the core, fan motor and fan, a deector comprising several cone segments having deflecting surfaces, some of which slope at a greater angle to the axis of the cone than others, the axis of the cone segments being substantially collinear and in coaxial alignment with the axis of the motor shaft, with the bases Vof all disposed in one and the same plane, and

the apexes of the cone segments being disposed on the same side of the plane of the base of the cone segments as the motor, vertical walls joining the edges of the cone segments having the atter slope with those having the steeper slope, means for supporting the deiiector with its smaller end disposed adjacent the discharge side of the fan, and means for rotating the same on its axis.

5. In combination with a unit heater and a motor driven fan, a rotatory cone-,shaped de# flector whose axis is substantially coaxial with the axis of the motor shaft, said deilector having several conical segments, parts of which extend at a greater angle of inclination to the axis of the cone than other parts of the surfaces, with the bases of all disposed in one and the same plane. means to rotatably support the delector with its smaller end disposed adjacent the discharge side of the fan, and motor driven drive means to rotate the deiiector.

6. In combination with a unit heater and a motor driven fan, a rotatory cone-shaped deector whose axis is substantially coaxialwith the axis of the motor shaft, said defiector having several segments of a cone, the effective surfaces ot which segments slope at various angles of inclination with respect to the axis of the cone, with their axes collinear and substantially in coaxial alignment with the axis of the motor shaft, auxiliary cone segments adjustably secured to the `.latter cone segments to increase their effective surface areas, said auxiliary cone segments having vertical walls extending to the steeper cone sections and adjustably secured thereto, means to support the deflector, and means to rotate the same on its axis.

7. In combination with a unit heater core, a fan motor, a fan driven thereby, and an enclosing cabinet enclosing the core, fan motor and fan and having a discharge outlet, a deiector comprising several cone segments having deflecting surfaces, some of which slope at a greater angle to the axis of the cone than others, the axis of the cone segments being' substantially collinear and in coaxial alignment with the axis of the motor shaft, the apexes of the cone segments being disposed on the same side of the plane of the base of the cone segments as the motor, vertical walls joining the edges of the iiatter cone segments with the edges of the steeper segments and extending along planes tangential to a circle concentric with the axis of the motor shaft, whereby air discharged by the fan through the discharge outlet upon the deflector causes it to rotate, escapement mechanism to retard the speed of rotation of the deector, and means to support the deiiector and escapement mechanism.

8. In combination,.a unit heater core, a fan, a motor therefor, a cabinet enclosing said core, fan and motor and having a discharge outlet, an oblique cone-shaped air dei-lector, means to rotatably support said deflector with its axis in coaxial alignment with the axis of the motor and its apex disposed on the dischargeside of the fan, and vanes on the surface of the cone against which the fan discharges a current of air whereby to rotate the deflector.

9. In combination with a unit heater and a motor driven fan, a supporting frame carried by the unit heater, a spindle supported by said frame, a rotatory cone-shaped deiiector whose axis is substantially coaxial with the axis of the motor shaft, said deiiector having several cone segments, some of which extend at a greater angle of inclination to the axis of the cone than others, and means to rotatably support the deector on said spindle with its apex end disposed on the discharge side of the fan.

10. In combination with a unit heater and a motor driven fan, a rotatory cone-shaped deector whose axis is substantially coaxial with the axis of the motor shaft, said deiiector having several conical segments. parts of which extend at a greater angle of inclination to the axis of the cone than other parts of the surfaces, means to rotatably support the deflector with its smaller end disposed adjacent the discharge side of the fan, and motor driven drive means to rotate the deflector.

BENJAMIN SPIETH.

REFERENCES CITEDl The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 863,663 Selg Aug. 20 1907 910,760 Wood Jan. 26, 1909 915,178 Hillyard Mar. 16, 1909 1,694,214 Ginder Dec. 4, 1928, 1,921,457 Dickinson Aug. 8, 1933/ 1,957,307 Von Ohlsen May 1, 1934, 2,000,112 Wheller May 7, 1935 2,235,461 Miller Mar. 16, 1941 2,342,596 North Feb. 22, 1944 2,362,955 Cantwell Nov. 14, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 267,656 Great Britain Mar. 24, 1927 621,483 France Feb. 7', 1927 

